NEW YORK RED BULLS 4, COLUMBUS CREW 0
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On John Wolyniec:
"John had a great game tonight. He's an experienced player. He has a good attitude everyday and he plays the role that he's given. Give him a lot of credit; I thought he played quite well tonight. Obviously, the first goal was critically important in this game."
On the game:
"In all fairness, this was not a 4-0 game. Everyone will look at the score tomorrow and think we dominated and we certainly didn't. I think Columbus in stretches were pretty good tonight. However, at the end of the day, I think defensively we were pretty solid for most of the game. I think the goals we scored were timely and made a difference in the game."
On the team's effort:
"I'm very pleased with our effort. We were a little shorthanded but no one cares when the opening whistle sounds. You have to play despite that. A few guys had to play in different spots and did a good job. I?m pleased with the three points to be honest."
On missing certain players:
"You're going to have injuries. You're going to have high school graduation and a lot of things come into play. I'm pleased with it. I think some of the guys we are going to start getting back soon and hopefully that helps us."
On Jozy Altidore missing the game due to his high school prom:
"I think it's important that a young man of his age has the opportunity to experience things that 17-year-olds experience. He asked me about 6-8 weeks ago about it and I said we should let him go."
On the difference in the field compared to last week:
"I think the field last week was not in great shape for a soccer match. I think tonight, with the rain and the field settling in after a week or two, it played much better."
On Juan Pablo Angel:
"I think he played well. He made a very good pass on the first goal. He was part of the play on the second, third and fourth goals. I think he had something to do with every one of those. I think it's going to take time to get familiar with him. He's different than players we've had in the past. It's definitely going to take a month on the field with our team to get a feel for him and how we utilize his skills. He brings a great attitude."
On Dema Kovalenko playing right back:
"I thought his first 20 minutes were a little shaky. He wasn't completely comfortable there but after that he played fine. I thought he played very well in the second half. It's a little out of nature for him, that position. He grew into the position as the game went on."
On Dane Richards:
"I don't think Dane had his best game today but Dane on a good day or a day where he is not at his best, he still pulls off plays. He's been dangerous in every match we've played. I think in his first professional season, he's getting worn down a little bit. I am a big believer of flank play and he can stretch teams and he is aggressive."
On the defense:
"It's been good. I think for the most part, although they controlled the ball, I don't think they had a lot of dangerous opportunities. They had a ton of set pieces. The guys are doing well. I think in particular, Jeff Parke has been playing well and Carlos Mendes has been solid."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JOHN WOLYNIEC
On his limited playing time so far this year:
"I just try to keep the same attitude I've always had, just to keep working, wait for opportunites and make the best of it. I found out late this week [about being in the starting lineup] and that's good - you don't have to think about it so much - and I just tried to make the most of my opportunity. A lot has been said about the competition on this team for spots and I pride myself on competing for a spot every week. For me it's been a good way to look at it, it's been a way for me to improve as a player."
On whether there is any sense of urgency to make the most of his opportunity:
"Oh yeah, that definitely crossed my mind. But sometimes that's what makes good player, those situations when you know you have to produce, and you have to do your best when you get that chance."
On whether there has been as much competition for spots on teams he's been part of in the past:
"Probably not. A lot has been said about it, but it's because it's the truth. There are a lot of quality players on this squad, from top to bottom. There are guys that have good qualities - everyone brings something good to the table."
On the difference between tonight's game and the season opener, which ended in a 0-0 draw:
"To be honest, I don't really know. I don't think we played great. But we just finished our opportunities when we got them. Sometimes you get a little bit of confidence after you get that first one. Even though we had a lull after that first goal, when we got the second one we started to feel confident. And we knew we could crush them if they kept coming at us."
NEW YORK RED BULLS GOALKEEPER JON CONWAY
On stopping some tough shots:
"Yeah, they're pretty sharp, they're dangerous coming forward. Obviously [Guillermo Barros] Schelotto does a real good job of moving around the field and getting open. [Ned] Grabavoy does a great job as well for them at getting the ball. I thought in the first half we made some great tackles, last-ditch efforts, and that saved it for us."
On one instance in the first half when he pounced on the ball amidst a crowd in the box:
"Yeah, there were probably 15 or 20 corner kicks, and that one in particular I got caught - there were a lot of bodies in there - and I couldn't get to it. Luckily, it just dropped down in front of me and I just jumped on top of it."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JUAN PABLO ANGEL
On the difference between last week and this week on offense:
"I think today was a different performance overall. The service from the back this week was quicker. That helps the way we play, because we are a team that likes to pass the ball around. But in general I think it was a more solid performance. We were clinical in attack, and when you score goals, you've always got a chance."
On his goal coming off a turnover:
"Yeah, it was a good pass by the defender, but you've still got to finish it off."
On whether he talked to Guillermo Barros Schelotto at all during the game:
"No, not at all. We had the chance to face each other in the Boca-River derbies, but today I think destiny put us in a different situation. He's a very good player and I think he played a decent game today, but we wanted to win, regardless of who was in front of us, and we got the job done."
COLUMBUS CREW HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the match:
"I didn't think it was a 4-0 game. I thought we played all right in the first half. They scored a very good goal but there were periods in the first half that we dominated. I though we created chances in the box but it's not resulting in the ultimate shot or even forcing a big save out of the goalkeeper. We were right around the edge but couldn't get there. The second goal took the wind out of our sails a little bit. It was a bad goal, and the third goal was worse. At that point, the game is over."
